Home>News Archive>JCTC joins forces with three colleges to boost college readiness

News Archive

JCTC joins forces with three colleges to boost college readiness

New center will help adult learners; partner organizations plan to formalize consortium

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2010) Four Louisville-based colleges announced Monday
that they will jointly launch the Signature Partnership Education Access Center, a
facility to help adult learners work toward a college degree. The center will open
Feb. 1 in Parrish Hall, Simmons College of Kentucky, 1015 S. Eighth St.

The center was partially funded by Kentucky s Council on Postsecondary Education and
its partners are Jefferson Community and Technical College, Simmons College, Spalding
University and the University of Louisville. It will target underserved populations,
primarily in West Louisville, by offering adult learners assistance with diagnostic
testing and advising, choosing a college, applying for financial aid and preparing
for college-level classwork.

UofL Provost Shirley Willihnganz said the center complements ongoing programs such
as the city s goal to boost the number of adults with a college degree through the
55,000 Degrees initiative.

By leveraging the resources of four colleges, plus several community organizations,
we can make a huge impact on bringing adult learners back to the classroom, Willihnganz
said.

Many Louisville-area adult learners begin their educational journey at JCTC and the
college s president and chief executive officer, Tony Newberry, said the partnership
was natural extension. JCTC enrolls more than 2,800 from West Louisville and Downtown
neighborhoods.

We are reminded every day about the importance of higher education as we see our
students working to transform their lives, Newberry said. This important partnership
with our fellow urban colleges and universities will help all of us strengthen our
support and services to a community eager for these opportunities.

Spalding University President Tori Murden McClure said her institution stands ready
to help get the center and its initiatives off the ground.

In support of the 55,000 Degrees initiative and as neighbors in the education corridor
Spalding is poised to assist Simmons College in any way we can, McClure said.

Organizers say they selected Simmons College to host the center because of its location.
Simmons College is already a part of UofL s Signature Partnership initiative, a multifaceted
program to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of West
Louisville.

Simmons College President Kevin Cosby said the center will give adult learners all
the resources they need under one roof.

When someone hasn t sat in a classroom for many years it can be pretty intimidating
to figure out all of the steps necessary to get a college degree, Cosby said.

The Signature Partnership Education Access Center is the first project to come out
of a recently-established, four-college partnership known as the College Connection
Initiative. The partners intend to formalize their relationship into a consortium.
The initiative s primary goal is to improve college readiness and, ultimately, increase
the number of college-educated workers in the Louisville metropolitan area.

Adult learners who want to further their education can contact the center at 502-436-3245
or learn more at www.louisville.edu/speac.